Marquette University News Release

Remembering alumnus and journalist James Foley

Prayer vigil for James Foley, Aug. 26, 2014

Marquette University on Aug. 26, 2014, celebrated the life of alumnus James Foley with a prayer vigil in the Church of the Gesu on campus. Nearly 1,000 people, including many of Jim’s closest friends, filled the church to honor and remember Jim.

University statement on James Foley

The Marquette community is deeply saddened by the death of alumnus and freelance journalist James Foley, Arts ’96. We extend our heartfelt prayers and wishes for healing to James’ family and friends during this very difficult time.

James, who majored in history at Marquette, had a heart for social justice and used his immense talents to tell the difficult stories in the hopes that they might make a difference in the world – a measure of his character for which we could not be prouder.

Following his first capture in 2011, after he safely returned from Libya, James expressed in a letter to the Marquette community the power and strength he drew not only from his own prayer, but the prayers of his family and friends. As a community, we offer this prayer for peace.

Statement on James Foley from President Obama

We will continue to confront this hateful terrorism and replace it with a sense of hope and civility. And that’s what Jim Foley stood for, a man who lived his work, who courageously told the stories of his fellow human beings, who was liked and loved by friends and family. Today, the American people will all say a prayer for those who loved Jim. All of us feel the ache of his absence. All of us mourn his loss.

Statement on James Foley from Secretary of State John Kerry

James Foley went to the darkest of places to shine the light of truth. Nothing could stop him from sharing with the world the reality of what was happening on the front lines in Iraq and Afghanistan, or the struggle against a brutal dictator in Libya, and he was just as determined to do the same from Syria. He was brave and bold, and no masked coward can ever steal the legacy of this courageous American who lived out the meaning of the word journalism.